Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-14
sMrRNA,s SECOND afzErrxG.
PeRch-ssrOwers Firm = Resolutions
AdOpsaa-Neyv Peach Esmssets,

Adop,aa--Nesv Peach EBnsRets,
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
SMYRNA, April IL. Another large meet
ing of peaoh-2rowers was held in the
town-hall on Saturday afternoon, with
John H. Hoffecker as chairman and Gill
bert B. Taylor, editor of the Record, as
secretary. The following resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
ResoIued, That It ia the sense of this meet
ing TO request the railroad authorities TO
remit the charges on return baskets, and II
such remission cannot thus be obtained, to
present this subject by petition TO the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
Resolued, That peach baskets, whether
nude OF wood, or paper, or other material,
and whether reduced in price or not
through the competition OF manufacturers,
shall not be given away by our commission
mon, and that, no matter how low the prices
may be, we shall insist on the return of
bqskets to their owners, and will not accept
baskets of mixed marks.
ResolUed, That the executive committee
be, and are requested 70 correspond with
New York produce dealers who have sold
peaches for us, and, IL need be, to meet
them either there or here, and to ascertain
who among them will agree to sell our
peaches according to the old custom and
return our baskets.
Resoluea, That 1t Is the interest OF our
peach-growers to unite In the effort to bring
buyers of peaches from the chief city
markets to Clayton and cooperate with the
Clayton exchange. q. D. TAYLOR, Sec.
An important subject of new paper
basket was discussed, and the sample was
exhibited. It was strong enough to bear
a man weighing 80pounds without yield
ing to that pressure. From this it would
seem that such q basket would do to
ship on steamboats,, where they are piled
up three tiers high as well as in cars. The
basket is perforated sufficiently for ven-
tilation, but the main objection they had
TO it, was that it was not sufficiently
strong at the top, although it had stout
outer and inner rim of paper. Il was
admitted by nearly all that it would be
necessary to strengthen Its top by substi-
tuting wooden inner rim, which would
prevent pressure on the peaches in load
ing and unloading. With this i'm
provement and little better and
heavier preparation for coating to the
paper to nuke it imperyious to water, it
would probably be acceptable to our fruit
growers. The cost of this basket without
cover was stated to be from 81 to A
cents. But the sense of the meet
ing was unanimously expressed in
one of the above resolutions, that
no matter of what material the pc ich
basket might be made, or how low its
cost, the growers would not give away
their baskets, but would continue the de-
mand for their return.
There was another basket presented to
the meeting, which resembled trun
Gated barrel in shape, or q water bucket
closed solidly at both ends, which had
sliding stats with spaces between, and by
removing which, the receptacle or peach
carrier az it is called, could be filled with
peaches, and 80 beautifully curious is
this article that If painted up in gaudy
colors with leather strap attached it
might be worthy imitation of drum.
1t is a home invention.
II was with great surprise that the
meeting received the announcement from
William H. Money that many of the New
York commission merchants have already
signifed their willingness to sell the
peaches for per cent commission in
stead of 10 per cent, as formerly, and to
charge for carriage three cents instead of
four. On being questioned as to the
names of those commission merchants,
he gave several of them.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Moneys
speech, an extensive peach-grower said (:
''Now we see already what the effect of
the resolutions of our first town meeting
have produced on the New York men.
This is big concession indeed, great
gain. Not having been demanded of re-
ceivers, and now having gained this much,
we stand just as firmly as ever for the re-
turn of the peach basket because we be-
lieve that the attempt to charge three
cents for the carriage will be futile, for
the cartmen have organized and planted
themselves squarely in opposition
to the receivers. And moreover
several years ogo when they were
selling peaches at five cents commission,
growers then taking chances for the re.
covery of their baskets, the commission
men combined and demanded 10 per cent
commission, on condition of the return Of
the baskets. Now they have broken thai
compromise. want the baskets given ia
them, offered to do the business for z pei
cent and who knows but what if the
growers should agree to their present
off n OF per cent that those commission
men would not again in year or tive
break faith with the growers as they did
be fore and charge 10 per cent again aftel
they had got US used to giving away oul
baskets No, no, let the peach grower,
beware and not be the fly for the spider'i
net"
So great was the unanimity of the senti
ment and opinion that not one mind il
that well-fiiled hall could be found to ex
press himself willing to give his basket
away or to sustain in the lightest breatl
the action of New York dealers and job
bers. Towards the close Of the meeting
an article published in New York pro
duce exchange paper, the spirit of which
was to ridieule the Delaware delegation
at the recent meeting at the New Yorl
Exchange and their speeches, was criti
cised and explained, and the object of i
showed to be peach campaign docu
ment, printed in sufficient numbers anG
| distributed at the instance of the New
York Exchange to produce an impression
adverse to the growers at the convention
to be held at Dover on the 18th of May
It was stated that several of the New
York aud Boston receivers would b,
present at that convention.
/ From what WAS heard on Saturday
there is every indication that there viii
be very large and demonstrative meet
ing, embracing delegations from all part
of Delaware, the eastern shore of Mary
land and peach-growing sections of New
Jersey.